Youguo Temple

Youguo Temple (zh-c|c=佑國寺) is a Buddhist monastery complex located northeast of Kaifeng, in Henan province, China. It was built by the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). The design features a pagoda towering in the center of the complex, a style that flourished in Chinese Buddhist temple architecture through the 11th century.

History

The original temple was magnificent in scale with 280 halls and 24 monasteries. Kaifeng was the capital city of the Northern Song, and the temple was an important place that the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty visited often. The imperial examination center was located at the temple and students from all over the empire came to take the exam.cite web
year=
month=
url=http://211.86.193.14/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD%E5%9C%A8%E7%BA%BF/culture/ChinaCulture/ChinaCulture/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_34729.htm
title= Tower in Youguo Temple
publisher=China Culture
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] The temple's original pagoda was a mammoth octagonal wooden tower thirteen storeys and 120 metres high. The eminent architect Yu Hao designed and engineered it. In 1044, it was hit by lightning and burned to the ground.
Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty ordered its replacement. It was designed to resemble the original wooden pagoda but built of glazed bricks so the tower would be fire-resistant and enduring. The 55 metre high Iron Pagoda, built in 1049, is a solid core, octagonal brick tower with an inner spiral stone staircase and outside openings to allow light and air flow.cite book
first=Gao
last= Daiheng
year= 2002
title=Chinese Architecture -- The Lia, Song, Xi Xia, and Jin Dynasties
edition= English Ed.
publisher=Yale University Press
location=
pages= p. 166, 183
id= ISBN 0-300-09559-7 ] The architectural style features densely positioned "dougong" in the eaves ("miyan") and multiple storys ("louge"). The glazed bricks, brown in color, gave the new tower its name, the Iron Pagoda. cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43300.htm
title=Youguo Temple Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng of Henan Province
publisher=china.org
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] The exterior features more than fifty different varieties of brick and 1,600 intricate and richly detailed carvings, including those of sitting Buddha, standing monks, singers and dancers, lions, dragons and other legendary beasts as well as many fine engravings. [cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.chinatravel.com/china-travel-guides/china-attractions/mountains/four-buddhist-holy-mountains/mt-wutaishan-in-shanxi.shtml
title=Mount Wutaishan in Shanxi Province
publisher=www.chinatravel.com
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] Under the eaves are 104 bells that ring in the wind. The foundation rests in the silt of the Yellow River.cite web
year=
month=
url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_36209.htm
title=Iron Pagoda
publisher=China Culture
accessdate=2007-09-03 ] Inside the Iron Pagoda are frescos of the Chinese classical novel, the Journey to the West. [cite book
first=Damian
last= Harper
year=2005
month=
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nUxebsEoQoEC&pg=PA400&lpg=PA400&dq=youguo+temple&source=web&ots=MJLFgy7AQU&sig=FLLftmXupXmOpS6_-dAvAwXEvIU
title=China
publisher=Lonely Planet
accessdate=2007-09-03
id = ISBN 1740596870]

In 1847 the Yellow River overflowed its banks and the Youguo Temple collapsed, but the Iron Pagoda survived. Historically, the pagoda has experienced 38 earthquakes, six floods and many other disasters, but it remains intact after almost 1000 years.

ee also

*List of Buddhist temples

Footnotes